Breastfeeding Promotion and Support

Human milk is known to be the optimal food for infants and has significant advantages for infants, women and for society as a whole. Breastfeeding provides superior nutrition for infants and can provide a measure of protection against most infections and allergic disorders.

Breastfeeding also strengthens the nurturing relationship between a mother and her child, promoting stronger family bonds and positive self-esteem for mothers. Research suggests it may also provide short and long-term health benefits to the nursing mother. It also has the potential to decrease health care costs for infants.

In order to optimize the health and well being of Kansas infants, Nutrition & WIC Services is committed to supporting policies which promote and support breastfeeding. WIC gives every prenatal woman, information on the benefits of breastfeeding and how to get started. Every breastfeeding woman receives support and information to help her to breastfeed for as long as she chooses. This can include both in-person contacts, phone support and issuance of breast pumps. All local WIC programs have a breastfeeding coordinator.

Women who breastfeed exclusively (whose infants do not receive supplemental formula) receive additional foods. All breastfed babies receive juice and infant cereal at about five months of age.

Women who breastfeed at least once a day may stay on WIC until her baby turns one year old. Other postpartum women receive WIC benefits for six months.

• Clinical Perspectives in Lactation
  • July 2008 (.pdf)
  • April 2008 (.pdf)
  • January 2008 (.pdf)
  • October 2007 (.pdf)
  • July 2007 (.pdf)
  • April 2007 (.pdf)
  • January 2007 (.pdf)
  • October 2006 (.pdf)
  • July, 2006 (.pdf)
  • March, 2006 (.pdf)
  • October, 2005 (.pdf)
  • March, 2005 (.pdf)
  • August, 2004 (.pdf)